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Promote Hair Growth and Prevent Hair Loss

Sometimes, hair loss occurs because of factors that are beyond your control, such as hormonal problems, genetics, or illness. But other times, your hair can become brittle, damaged, and prone to breakage, leading to visible hair loss. You may be able to prevent some hair loss and damage by taking steps to keep your hair and scalp healthy, such as taking dietary supplements, healthy scalp treatment, altering your hair care regimen, or seeking professional help to promote healthy hair growth.

Change Your Hairstyle

Certain hair accessories — including hairpins, clips, and rubber bands — can cause extensive hair breakage when they are used to hold your hair tightly in place. Tight ponytails, cornrows, or braids can also create tension on your hair and cause it to break and appear thin. For healthy hair, experts recommend minimizing the use of hair accessories and not continuously wearing hairstyles that pull on your hair. And when you do use hair accessories, select hairpins with balled ends, clips with rubber padding, and fabric hair ties instead of rubber bands.

Consume More Iron

If your diet doesn't include enough iron, it could cause your hair to fall out. Your doctor can check this with a blood test. If you are iron deficient, an easy fix to help prevent hair loss is to increase the amount of dietary iron you consume. Good sources of iron include organ meats, clams, oysters, iron-fortified cereals, beans, pumpkin seeds, and spinach. But don't take an iron supplement without talking with your doctor — too much iron can be harmful.

Limit Brushing for Healthy Hair

Dermatologists say that vigorous grooming of your hair — such as following the old recommendation to brush it 100 strokes every night — can damage your hair and cause it to break off. If you excessively brush your hair and it appears thin or shaggy, try limiting how much you brush your hair. Often, the best way to improve the health of your hair is to leave it alone as much as possible.

Get a Professional Hair and Scalp Analysis

Sometimes, it can be difficult to determine why your hair is falling out — and therefore, how to treat or prevent hair loss. In addition to reviewing your medical history and asking about lifestyle factors that may be affecting the health of your hair, a dermatologist can perform a professional hair and scalp analysis to help determine the cause of your hair loss. Your dermatologist will carefully study your hair and scalp and may take a sample of your hair or a scalp biopsy to gather more information.

Let Your Hair Air-Dry

High heat from blow dryers can be extremely damaging to your hair and leave it susceptible to breakage. When you hold a blow dryer close to your wet hair, it can actually boil the water in your hair shaft, which can cause your hair to be brittle. Rubbing wet hair vigorously with a towel can also lead to breakage and thinning. To reduce your risk of hair damage and help prevent hair loss, let your hair air-dry when possible, and limit your use of heated styling tools.

Take Biotin Supplements

Biotin is a B vitamin that is sometimes used to help reduce or prevent hair loss. Some people do not get enough biotin in their diet, resulting in biotin deficiency. Scientific evidence indicates that taking biotin supplements may help alleviate hair thinning if you have a biotin deficiency. Talk with your doctor if you suspect that you are deficient in biotin. He can assess your symptoms and determine whether biotin supplements may help you.

Eat More Protein

In order to promote hair growth and healthy hair, your body needs to get enough protein from the foods you eat. If you aren't getting enough protein in your diet, it can disrupt the life cycle of your hair and cause it to begin to fall out within two to three months. Increase the amount of protein you are getting in your diet by eating more meats, eggs, fish, nuts, seeds, and beans.

Shampoo Less

When many people shampoo their hair, they feel as if they are taking good care of it. But daily or repetitive shampooing can actually damage your hair, cause it to easily break, and leave it looking thin. This is because wet hair is more elastic than dry hair and more prone to breakage when you are scrubbing it. To preserve the thickness and health of your hair and prevent hair loss, shampoo less often.

Switch to Products with Gentler Ingredients

In many cases, hair breakage results from using harsh products on your hair. If you frequently bleach your hair or use chemicals to curl or straighten your hair, it can become damaged and look thin. Even everyday synthetic hair products, such as gels and hairsprays, can dry your hair out and cause it to break off. To reduce the risk of hair loss and maintain your healthy hair, limit your use of hair products or ask your hair care professional to recommend some natural products to treat and style your hair.

Get Regular Trims

When hair loss occurs because your hair is damaged and prone to breakage, regular haircuts can help it look better. Hair that is regularly trimmed is less likely to become damaged and develop brittle split ends, which can travel up your hair shaft toward your scalp. So although it may sound contrary to your goal if you’re trying to grow your hair, regular haircuts may actually help you with hair growth, as they may help keep your hair healthy and prevent it from breaking off.

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